Macular Degeneration: The Latest Scientific Discoveries and Treatments for Preserving Your Sight

196 Pages·2000·12.207 MB·English

by  Robert D’Amato, Joan Snyder

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MACULAR
Defeneration
The Latest
Scientific
Discoveries
and Treatnnents
for Preserving
Your Sight
39092 04098164 1
Robert DAmato, M.D. Ph.D., and Joan Snyder
,

Macular
Degeneration
Digitized by tine Internet Archive
2010
in
littp://www.archive.org/details/maculardegeneratOOdama
Macular
Degeneration
THE LATEST SCIENTIEIC
DISCOVERIES AND TREATMENTS
EOR PRESERVING YOUR SIGHT
Robert D'Amato, M.D., Ph.D,,
AND
]oan Snyder
WALKER & COMPANY NEW YORK
TETOH COe^!TY UORARY
Copyright © 2000byRobertD'Amato andJoanSnyder
All rights reserved. Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedortransmittedin
anyform orbyanymeans, electronic ormechanical, includingphotocopying,
recording, orbyanyinformation storageandretrievalsystem, without
permissioninwritingfromthe Publisher.
FirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericain2000by
WalkerPublishingCompany, Inc.
Medicaldisclaimer:Thetreatmentsandtherapiesdescribedinthisbookarenot
intendedtoreplacetheservicesofatrainedhealthprofessional.Yourownphys-
ical condition anddiagnosis mayrequire specificmodifications orprecautions.
Before undertaking anytreatment or therapy, you should consult your physi-
cian or health care provider. Any appUcation of the ideas, suggestions, and
proceduressetforthinthisbookareatthereader'sdiscretion. Extremecaution
should be observed when considering unproven, more invasive therapies that
mayadverselyaffectyourhealth.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
D'Amato, Robert.
Maculardegeneration : thelatestscientificdiscoveriesandtreatmentsfor
preservingyoursight/ RobertD'AmatoandJoanSnyder,
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferences.
ISBN 0-8027-1359-9
—
1. Retinaldegeneration Popularworks. I. Snyder,JoanR. II. Title.
RE661.D3 D36 2000
617.7'35—dc21
00-028991
BookdesignbyM. DiMassi
J.
246P8rinted inC9an7ada531
10
.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Preface by Robert D'Amato, M.D., Ph.D. xi
J.
Preface by Joan Snyder xv
Author's Note xix
PART ONE
Understanding and Diagnosing Age-Related
Macular Degeneration
1 The Miracle ofEyesight 3
The Anatomy ofthe Eye 5
How We
See 10
ARMD
2. Risk Factors for 12
ARMD
Demographics of 12
ARMD
Genetic Predisposition to 15
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors 16
ARMD
3. Recognizing and Understanding 20
Vision Specialists 21
Symptoms 23
Screening 26
Understanding What Drusen Are 33
ARMD
Classifications of 36
vi Contents
4. The Right Diagnosis 40
Angiography 41
Anticipating Angiography 45
Optical Coherence Tomography 47
Self-Screening for Vision Problems 48
ARMD
5. The Likely Course of 51
DryARMD
52
ARMD
Wet 55
Pigment Epithelial Detachment (PED) 58
Retention ofPeripheral Vision 59
Watch Out for Other Eye Problems 60
Be Your Own Best Expert 61
PART TWO
Treatment Options
ARMD
6. Therapies for Dry 65
Monitoring Your Status with the Amsler Grid 67
Preventive Care 70
Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements 74
ARMD
7. Medical Treatments for Wet 78
The Pros and Cons ofLaser Therapy 78
Experimental Photodynamic Therapy 83
Transpupillary Thermotherapy 85
Drug Therapy 86
8. Alternative Therapies 90
Microcurrent Stimulation 91
RheoTherapy 94
Acupuncture and Acupressure 95
Yoga, Massage, and Other Body Work 96
Meditation 99
Contents vii
Homeopathy 100
Aerobic Exercise 102
9. Promising Medical Research Initiatives 104
Surgical Procedures 105
Radiation Therapy 110
Steroid Injections 112
PART THREE
Coping with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
10. Don't Give in to the Prognosis 115
Active Versus Passive Reactions 117
Three Basic Actions 119
Seeing in the Dark 121
Getting by in Social Situations 122
Adaptive Behaviors 123
11. Low-Vision Support Tools 130
Refractive Correction 131
Illumination 133
Magnification and Other Low-Vision Tools 133
Your Home Environment 135
12. The Low-Vision Community 138
National Support Groups 138
Helpful Web Sites 141
Epilogue 147
Glossary 149
Resources 153
Suggested Reading 159
Index 161